Vigil held for Pasadena HS student who died after collapsing on campus

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Hundreds of Pasadena High School students gathered tonight to honor their beloved classmate with a candlelight vigil.

Sixteen-year-old Eric Medina Jr. collapsed while running on the track during PE on Friday. According to one of his basketball teammates, it happened while Medina was running track with the team and on his fourth lap. School district officials say staff then started CPR on him.

Medina regained consciousness for a short time before collapsing again. School district officials said Medina had a clean physical on file to play basketball and had no symptoms of being ill Friday morning.

"I wasn't prepared to hear the bad news but I was prepared to help the family out," said Eric's cousin Jose Suarez.

Eric was a true Eagle. He wanted to go to college so he could come home to coach at the high school.

"He was a great kid he was the best like I tell everybody he's the kind a good coach wants to have he never begged out of anything," said Coach Jason Pillow.

Counselors will be available on campus Monday for students and staff and to provide support for those needing assistance.

A Go Fund Me account for Eric Medina's family has been set up to help pay with funeral expenses.